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Here’s some important info I wish someone told me before my trip. Visa on arrival sounds easy peasy but this was not at all that. I stood in a queue for 30 mins then realized everyone had a form I didnt. Asked some nice people and they guided me; even told me i needed a photo and 1000 baht cash. Woah! I panicked. So anyway after running all over the place to first get the application form, convert cash, then click a decent photograph, I got back in line for an hour which felt like an eternity. Excitement that was brimming in me had fallen asleep, it was 3 in the morning. Finally it was my turn, he asked for my hotel reservations, i didnt have it so he told me to get it next time… in my head i was rolling my eyes-like there’s gonna be a next time. He handed me a coupon and asked me to go sit down… more on that later. Nevertheless, I happened to love the place and will definitely go back but I love to help more so here goes…

First, a list of things you’ll need for visa on arrival:

Passport (in case you have a sucky memory)

Immigration card (you will get this in the airplane, ask for it incase you dozed off and don’t recall getting one)

Application form for visa on arrival… this one caused me a lot of time and money. After walking out of the plane into the terminal, make a pit stop to use the washroom if you may and continue on to the visa on arrival gate. Ask for directions instead of wasting time wandering. This is where you will realize the language barrier and/or accent woes; be kind, attentive and calm. Find the gate, ask for this form before entering any queue and make sure you have a pen and a 4*6cm size photograph of yourself or you’re gonna have to shell out 250 bht to get some clicked – such a waste.

Boarding pass + hotel booking Make sure you have this; however, some dont care too much. Be on the safe side. You will also need this info while filling the above form, along with a point of contact in the country. Luckily I had a tour guide coming to pick me.

Return ticket (within 15 days), why not?!

Fee of 1000 baht in thai currency so plan your money conversions; mine was a spontaneous, last minute trip so I ended up converting all my cash at their airport and later realized I got a terrible rate. Do some research, find the best place to convert. The city has a lot of centers, just convert enough to pay immigration beforehand and do the rest later for a better price.

More notes:

Travel light to Shop to your heart’s content! I want to travel here at least once a year just to shop. It’s crazy cheap, pretty designs, very wearable styles be it for work , outdoors or party. In fact I’d recommend carrying only your basic necessities and fill you bags with great shopping bargains. You will get everything you ever wanted. Skin care and hair care products, Bohemian clothes, smart work casuals, swimwear, purses, footwear… you can turn into a lifestyle blogger overnight.

Now, I know spontaneity is great but read up and make a list of places to visit or you’ll regret it every time you hear of a place you ‘missed’; even the adventures of the vibrant naughty nightlife. Some of the best places I visited:

Khao san road

Soi Rambuttri

Chatuchak market

Ratchanda Train market

Wat Pho

Floating market

Don’t forget:

Cover up when Visiting temples, like any other place of respect.

Bargain for anything and everything. If you think its fine still bargain unless you wana make someone extra happy. In that case, spend your extra cash on them.

My monsoon tradition is that I have at least one weekend away in the rains. So this August, a group of friends and I set out to Nagaon, Maharashtra. A small, cozy, coastal village, less than 10 kilometers from Alibaug, Nagaon’s beach is called Akshi. After checking in to our bunglow for the weekend, we decided to explore our way to the beach. About half an hour, two direction enquiries, a few pictures and a short run later, we came upon the beach. Continue reading →

They say life is difficult. There’s competition out there, in every stage of life. In the work sphere, it’s ‘survival of the fittest’ to the highest measure. Why is there so much competition? And no, it’s not because there are less jobs and more people! That in itself doesn’t make sense!! More the number of people, greater the need for people who provide services and labour; doesn’t that sound more practical? Continue reading →

On my recent weekend getaway to Badlapur, not more than 70 kms from home, I got to thinking… the people there seemed so different even though they’re just outside the city, imagine what the ones who live in deep rural areas must be like… and then it hit me! Continue reading →

My year of further studies comes to a close this May; if I want that Uni Certificate I’m gonna have to submit a thesis. Call it my strength or weakness, I usually leave my work for the last minute as I am self-proclaimed to work best under stress. So, tomorrow is the last day that I have to put the ‘Black Book’ together and still a lot to do. When deciding what topic to pick I immediately knew it would be this coz there are only so many issues one can care about. Below is an intro to my topic so feel free to read, give feedback, suggestions, data, whatever 😛

Sometime ago, the articles floating around Social media about the ever-sleeping-child in the arms of beggars spiked my interest in street children. Continue reading →

‘What is Love?’ seems to have become the clichéd question I’m still having trouble with. These days people claim to love everyone they have a good rapport with; for some it is impossibly hard unless they actually mean it from within. I am one of them.

Mumbai – the city of dreams, home to me and million others; And I’m not just talking about those who live here permanently but the numerous others as well who work, study, visit and keep coming back for more. Home, where you’re happy, you belong, you don’t care how clean or safe or whatever, you just fit, just feel right…

This lovely flower bloomed at my window on the night of October 11, 2013. All this while, we have been calling it “Bethlehem flower” whereas friends whom I’ve shown it to called it “Brahma Kamal”. So as always, before I post pictures online, I began to research and realized there’s so much misinformation and myths on the internet; so many beautiful videos, articles, and blogs on this flower but the content is so confusing and different all over. Continue reading →

Going through a slam-book 10 years later made me realize a few things, why ‘young & stupid’ go well together (:P) and how much I had forgotten, about myself and my besties at the time. The human mind is a ‘funny’ place; it can be so amazing yet so picky when it comes to memories. Anyway, going through it this morning reminded me of this post I’ve been meaning to write since Friendship Day… Continue reading →